Women Coaches Coaching Women

Sailors reflects on the presence of women in sport in the last 50 years or so. The 1972 passage of Title IX in the United States, ordering steps toward equal access for girls and young women to sports, led to a 40% increase in participation. Prior, only 3% of girls participated in sport, while the current calculation is around 43%. Regardless of this positive trend, the number of women coaching female athletes fell from 90% pre-Title IX to around 40% today, despite the growth of women&s;s teams. This can be explained by pointing to issues faced by female coaches not faced by male coaches, specifically (1) the tokenism inherent in being a minority on the scene, (2) societal expectations regarding family structure and responsibilities, and (3) role confusion on the part of athletes who see female coaches as friends or maternal figures rather than authorities. Women coaches also face issues in coaching female athletes that are not faced in coaching male athletes, including (1) access to facilities and resources, (2) the necessity of adapting one&s;s communication style, and (3) increased sensitivity surrounding weight and appearance of female athletes. Sailors prescribe alternative conditions that could make sports a more welcoming environment.